Comparative and Analytic Lens for Displaying a Window with a First Column for First Data and a Second Column for Comparison Values of the First Data and Second Data

1. A method for comparing data, comprising: receiving user selection of first data to be compared from a first document; storing a configuration window including a first column for storing the first data, a second column for storing one or more formulas used in making comparisons, and a third column for storing information on graphics to use for the second column and when to use the graphics; allowing the user to move a Comparative and Analytic (CA) lens window to float over second data from a second document, wherein the CA lens window is transparent and includes a first column for showing the first data and a second column for showing comparison values for the first data and the second data with the graphics; and in response to the CA lens floating over the second data, in real-time, comparing the first data and the second data according to the one or more formulas; and displaying the CA lens window showing the first data in the first column and comparison values between the first data and the second data in the second column with the graphics showing whether the data in the first column has one of increased and decreased.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first document and the second document are a same spreadsheet, and wherein the first data and the second data are selected from a spreadsheet and further comprising: displaying the comparison without leaving a current view of the spreadsheet and without changing a layout of the spreadsheet.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first document and the second document are different documents.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing a CA lens cursor that is circular for use in selecting the second data.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving user input of one or more graphics formulas used in determining whether to display the graphics and which graphics to display in the CA lens window; and displaying the CA lens window with the graphics based on the one or more graphics formulas.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving user selection of an analytic mode; receiving user input of one or more formulas used in analysis; allowing the user to move the CA lens window to float over new data to select the new data for analysis; and in response to the CA lens floating over the new data, in real-time, analyzing the selected new data according to the one or more formulas; and displaying a CA lens window showing the new data and the analysis.

7. A system for comparing data, comprising: a processor; and storage coupled to the processor, Wherein the storage stores a computer program, and wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer program to perform operations, wherein the operations comprise: receiving user selection of first data to be compared from a first document; storing a configuration window including a first column for storing the first data, a second column for storing one or more formulas used in making comparisons, and a third column for storing information on graphics to use for the second column and when to use the graphics; allowing the user to move a Comparative and Analytic (CA) lens window to float over second data from a second document, wherein the CA lens window is transparent and includes a first column for showing the first data and a second column for showing comparison values for the first data and the second data with the graphics; and in response to the CA lens floating over the second data, in real-time, comparing the first data and the second data according to the one or more formulas; and displaying the CA lens window showing the first data in the first column and comparison values between the first data and the second data in the second column with the graphics showing whether the data in the first column has one of increased and decreased.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first document and the second document are a same spreadsheet, wherein the first data and the second data are selected from a spreadsheet, and wherein the operations further comprise: displaying the comparison without leaving a current view of the spreadsheet and without changing a layout of the spreadsheet.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first document and the second document are different documents.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise: providing a CA lens cursor that is circular for use in selecting the second data.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise: receiving user input of one or more graphics formulas used in determining whether to display the graphics and which graphics to display in the CA lens window; and displaying the CA lens window with the graphics based on the one or more graphics formulas.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise: receiving user selection of an analytic mode; receiving user input of one or more formulas used in analysis; allowing the user to move the CA lens to float over the selected new data for analysis; and in response to the CA lens floating over the selected new data, in real-time, analyzing the selected new data according to the one or more formulas; and displaying a CA lens window showing the selected new data and the analysis.

13. A computer program product for comparing data, the computer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code, when executed by a processor of a computer, configured to perform: receiving user selection of first data to be compared from a first document; storing a configuration window including a first column for storing the first data, a second column for storing one or more formulas used in making comparisons, and a third column for storing information on graphics to use for the second column and when to use the graphics; allowing the user to move a Comparative and Analytic (CA) lens window to float over second data from a second document, wherein the CA lens window is transparent and includes a first column for showing the first data and a second column for showing comparison values for the first data and the second data with the graphics; and in response to the CA lens floating over the second data, in real-time, comparing the first data and the second data according to the one or more formulas; and displaying the CA lens window showing the first data in the first column and comparison values between the first data and the second data in the second column with the graphics showing whether the data in the first column has one of increased and decreased.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the first document and the second document are a same spreadsheet, and wherein the first data and the second data are selected from a spreadsheet, and wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the processor of the computer, is configured to perform: displaying the comparison without leaving a current view of the spreadsheet and without changing a layout of the spreadsheet.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the first document and the second document are different documents.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the processor of the computer, is configured to perform: providing a CA lens cursor that is circular for use in selecting the second data.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the processor of the computer, is configured to perform: receiving user input of one or more graphics formulas used in determining whether to display the graphics and which graphics to display in the CA lens window; and displaying the CA lens window with the graphics based on the one or more graphics formulas.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program code, when executed by the processor of the computer, is configured to perform: receiving user selection of an analytic mode; receiving user input of one or more formulas used in analysis; allowing the user to move the CA lens to float over the selected new data for analysis; and in response to the CA lens floating over the selected new data, in real-time, analyzing the selected new data according to the one or more formulas; and displaying a CA lens window showing the selected new data and the analysis.